Where fashion meets function

My Levi’s 501

Today, I am feeling fiercely independent and empowered as a woman. Don’t worry, I’m not about to spew all my emotions (I have many) on what it is to be female, but instead let me share with you some reasons why today is special.

One – the music scene has recently been LIT up with incredible and jaw-dropping displays by Solange, Angel Olsen, and Banks. Each of these women are unique in their own genres, with potential as high as the heavens. If you can, take a moment to indulge and watch/listen to their latest sound and visual art:

Two – We currently have the first female candidate running for CEO of the United States. And whether you like her or not, you gotta admit she is an impressive woman with intellectual “ballz” 10x the size of her opponent’s, no doubt about it. As Ron Swanson so bluntly put it, “This election would already be over if Hillary were not a women.” (keeping up with my politics, clearly – via trusted yet fictional Parks & Recreation heros).

Three – the real point of this post, I am empowered by the sheer existence of the Levi’s 501 Women’s cut. Borrowed from the boys, these jeans were originally created to provide a durable garment for men during the hard labors of mining. Since then, the jeans have transcended decades, moving from an existence of pure functionality into the epicenter of modern day fashion. You literally can’t think of American-made jeans without having Levi’s pop into your brain. The perfect pair of jeans can be life-changing. But the perfect brand identity is immortal.

It is vintage, it is old school, it is your boyfriend’s and your mom’s jeans both at once (oh god, bad imagery). Made from 100% cotton, the 501 is customized and tapered to the feminine physique, while maintaining that durable, tough, ride-or-die appeal. I got mine in ‘Lonesome Road’. The name alone ignites a fire of independence and fearlessness. Images of my hands on the wheel of a dark green convertible, hair flying in the wind, eyes focused on a long straight road leading down the dusty horizon to nowhere immediately spring to mind… Daydreaming is good for the soul.

Now for the styling, when wearing these jeans, you want to make sure you’re adding a little sumthin’-sumthin’ to make the aesthetic more modern, and less 1850’s San Francisco Gold Rush. How, you ask? View my look in the images below (taken again by the one and only Tommy Vo) and recall the fall essentials I mentioned a couple weeks ago. For more material, shop through the gallery for other hand-picked items to help you round out the idea. Think structured, feminine, and bold. Then get ready to feel proud of your womanhood.

P.S. These jeans will cost you about $45 USD with the 30% FALL30 code and last a lifetime. Talk about utility…

UTILITA STATE

Personal style blog, where fashion meets function. Posts are dedicated to the belief that a single utility item can go a long way, illustrating how you can use one item in both professional and leisure settings.